Pletcher-Trained Rising Star Tip Top Thomas Nearing Racing Return
Jim Bakke and Gerald Isbister’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Tip Top Thomas is nearing his return to competition after posting seven workouts at Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher’s Palm Beach Downs training facility in 2025.
The 3-year-old colt by Volatile last raced on October 5, finishing second in the GI Champagne Stakes at Aqueduct. His connections have targeted an April 5 six-furlong allowance race at Keeneland for his comeback.
“Hopefully, he’ll progress from his 2-year-old season and show some improvement,” Bakke said. “I think that’s really important for a young horse to continue to move forward. He has been training very very well.”
Tip Top Thomas most recently drilled a bullet five furlongs in 1:01.73 (1/5) on March 13, the fastest of five works at that distance.
The promising colt made an impressive debut at Saratoga on August 24, posting a game head victory against a deep maiden special weight field that included subsequent multiple graded stakes winner Sovereignty (Into Mischief). He followed that performance with his second-place finish behind fellow ‘Rising Star’ Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) in the Champagne.
Bakke confirmed the extended time off was strategic rather than injury-related.
“He’s shown he’s pretty much a sprinter, or more of a one-turn horse,” Bakke explained. “We were dabbling with the idea that if he really ran big in the Champagne, maybe we’d try the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. We thought it would be better to put him away for the winter and get him fresh for the spring time.”
Tip Top Thomas represents one of three ‘Rising Stars’ from Volatile’s first crop. The Kentucky-bred sold for $160,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale and comes from an accomplished family. He is a half-brother to three-time stakes winner Gray Attempt (Graydar) and Dua (Arrogate), who placed third in both the 2023 GIII Sorrento Stakes and GII Chandelier Stakes.
Bred by Wynnstay Inc., Donna Moore and Jim Richardson, the colt carries a name with personal significance to his connections.
“They came up with Tip Top Thomas—I think it was a cute name,” Bakke said, noting the colt is named after Isbister’s grandson Thomas.
TIP TOP THOMAS (Volatile @Three_Chimneys) feeling his oats this morning 🦍 Doing great and looking forward to his return to the races in the next 30 days. @theTDN Rising Star on Travers Day 🛶
2nd in G1 Champagne for Bakke/Isbister pic.twitter.com/q7KGeLPlbj
— BSW/Crow Bloodstock (@BSWCrow)
TIP TOP THOMAS (Volatile March 15, 2025
